Even as spoke, Vivian began to make a friendly gesture to take Sue’s hands, but she hesitated and withdrew when she saw Sue’s tanned, callus-filled skin. As for Sue, she did not say a word since she was keen to see what Vivian was up to- she had lived long enough to learn to judge a person’s character by now.
Soon, as Vivian took her to an expensive cafe for breakfast, Sue texted Lulu to tell her that Vivian was meeting her in private. Still, she would have to wait for Vivian to tell her what she was up to. “How has work been? Are you getting used to my home?” Vivian said as she pushed a coffee and a slice of cake toward Sue.
Though she appeared caring, Sue sharply noticed her wording: she had used my home, and not Mr. Slate’s home.
She was no one to him, and it was curious why she would speak as if she belonged.
So it seemed that she was a woman who intended to rise to the top by marrying rich.
In the past, Sue would have felt guilty for judging a person so shallowly. However, it was simply a fair assessment when it came to Vivian, especially given preceding events. “It’s alright,” Sue replied evenly.
Noticing Sue’s hostility right then, Vivian promptly humbled herself with an apologetic smile. “I know-it’s my bad before, and I shouldn’t have spoken out of turn. But I was so worried, you know? There was this other maid who was basically a golddigger, so I may have misspoken.”
Sue stayed silent, as she was just keenly watching what Vivian was up to.
For her part. Vivian did not care if Sue forgave her at all, since she was not earnestly apologizing anyway. “So, I came to see you because I have something to ask. Don’t worry-once it’s done, I’ll reward you generously.”
However, half a minute passed with Sue still not saying a word, and Vivian’s patience ran out.
Suddenly she flashed a cool smile as she said, ‘As I’m aware, your son el is still in high school, you live in a basement, and your family owes a debt after your husband was disabled. Their livelihood depends on you-you’d really need the money.”
Sue was nervous at that.
It was obvious that Vivian had investigated her and was going after her family.
“What do you want?” She asked warily.
Seeing that she was finally responding, Vivian smiled again as she reclined against her seat.
Taking a sip of her coffee, she then slowly said, “hurts me to see you working hard every day, and then having to help your disabled husband g to help yo when you get home. need the money, and I need the help-don’t worry, I’m not telling you to break any laws.”
Sue really doubted that.
Was there anything good that could come out of that woman’s brain?
To no surprise, Vivian soon made an offer that made her speechless. “I just need you to keep a constant eye on Wendy Jones. Don’t worry about ve the rest and when it’s done, I’ll pay you 200 grand, which is enough to clear your debts and pay for your son’s school fees. Having to work while studying is leaving him malnourished, no? Don’t you think this is a fairly good deal?” The Alarm bells were blaring in Sue’s mind.
Why would Vivian want to know about what Wendy was doing? Was she trying to hurt Wendy?! The So, Vivian was trying to put her on her payroll? Sue had been working for a good family before and certainly never experienced this.
However, there was one thing she knew-to never take what was not hers.
Even if she did, she would eventually pay the consequences and be left worse off than now.
That was why she must never fall to temptation, not to mention that Mr. Slate was paying her well!
Moreover, it was all thanks to Wendy fighting for her. There was no way she would work against Wendy!
And having worked at Monsoon for a while, she knew how much rich families pay their maids. Three grand per month was already good, and Mr. Slate paid her three and a half! If anything, even the maids in Monsoon would be jealous of her, and it was all the more reason for her to say no!
“I’m afraid I can’t do it,” she told Vivian, thickening her accent to make her seem even more ignorant. “Us bumpkins only know things like housework. I really can’t do what you’ve asked me to.” Vivian frowned, a bit jarred by the accent.
But she knew Sue was rejecting her-she at least knew that much!
Pigheaded bumpkin!
“What are you saying?” She smiled, not sure why Sue would reject her offer. “I’m sure you were recruited into Monsoon because you’re capable, and I’m just asking something very simple. Why not do it? Why suffer? Aren’t you stupid?”
If she were in Sue’s place, she would have taken the money so that her son could have a comfortable life while not having to worry about being pestered by creditors!
“I can handle my problems myself. And I’m sorry, I’m going to be late,” Sue said, refusing to stay and argue since Vivian was insistent.
She made her position clear, just as she was perfectly aware who between Vivian and Wendy had their best interest in mind!
Vivian was left watching as Sue strode out of the cafe, and she slammed a fist down on the table in anger!
As she left herself, she was cursing as she shook her wrist, perhaps from pain.
On the other hand, Sue quickly bought everything Lulu needed and returned to Zachary’s Mansion.
It was a hot day out, and she was in sweat when she got et back, although she tried to get herself a few times.
“Thanks, Sue,” Lulu said in greeting to her.
“Oh, it’s nothing. Is Star awake?”
SW
Lulu nodded-the baby had been ceedingly o quiet today, a sense of security of her mother around.
Even when she saw Sue return, she held out her little hands to her.
“I’m sweaty…” Sue smiled in embarrassment when she saw that, holding out her hand instead of picking up the baby.
After all, she reeked of sweat, while the baby had this nice milky smell.
Lulu smiled mildly, noting Sue’s dilemma. “You should go wash up.”
Going out during hard days was harsh on anyone, after all.
Meanwhile, the meeting room in Slate Industries was cold as winter.
“How did our competitors find out about our tender beforehand?”
threat in his words left even.
Zachary asked slowly, but heart racing.
******
Slate Industries was just outbid in a project tender by just ten grand, and not even the cleaners would believe there was not a mole.
However, no one could tell who it was—the company’s auditors had not the faintest clue.
Either way, the outcome points to one cause: Whoever the mole was, they were high in rank.
Otherwise, they would not have access to the company’s sensitive files, down to the bid amount.
A man strode into the meeting room amid the tense atmosphere.
“Mr. Slate, the board’s threatening to sell their shares,” Ken Dawson told Zachary, whispering into the latter’s ear.
Ken was dressed casually and sticking out like a sore thumb compared to the other sharply dressed professionals in the room. It certainly reflected his easy-going nature, but he was assuredly on Zachary’s side.
And to Zachary, things just got worse—if those shareholders really sold their shares, their share prices would dip.
Panic showed on Sue’s face, and she turned toward Zachary as she hung up.
He was still patting Star on the back as he nodded assuringly at Sue. “You may leave if it’s urgent. I’ll have my chauffeur drive you home.”
He knew about Sue’s family’s circumstances and therefore offered a generous salary while helping her family as much as she could, as long as she showed loyalty. “Thank you so much, Mr. Slate! You’re such a good man!” Sue exclaimed, using plain words since she was too down-to-earth to offer flattery.
She hurried toward the front door, almost tripping over herself.
“Slow down,” Lulu said with a smile, and she nodded.
Once Sue left, Zachary said, “I’m curious as to how you’d managed to earn such praise from Mrs. Lambert.”
Lulu noticed that Star had just fallen asleep in Zachary’s arms and took her out of his hands-the proximity between them making his heart skip a beat just then.
“I’m just putting to use what I’ve learned. She was just exaggerating,” Lulu said, putting Star in her crib before gesturing for Zachary to go outside so that they could talk.
As Zachary closed the door, he said, “I can see that you deserve the credit. How was Star today? Was she being fussy?”
Erma, the maid before, had her hands full with Star.
Moreover, Zachary wanted to ask if Lulu was tired from babysitting.
“Don’t worry,” Lulu assured him. “Star is a really good girl-she’s the least fussy among the children I’ve cared for.”
Zachary raised a brow-she was really tight-lipped!
Still, it was true that she appeared spirited.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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